Warm the engine driving or in the driveway?

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by 986Porsche986

Just wondering what was better, to warm the engine idling in the driveway OR to gently drive it until it gets to normal operating temp? Please fill me in.

The object of the game is to minimize the load on the driveline until it is at operating temperature. How in the hell anyone can think driving is less of a load than idling where you start it is beyond me.

[SoK]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

The object of the game is to minimize the load on the driveline until it is at operating temperature. How in the hell anyone can think driving is less of a load than idling where you start it is beyond me.

That's what I was always told. Why operate something that's not at least out of the cold cycle? I usually let mine run for a few minutes when cold, even in the dead of summer, before i take off.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

How in the hell anyone can think driving is less of a load than idling where you start it is beyond me.

Ummm....because Porsche says so, and they made the car.
Do you not have an owners manual? I'll take their word for it.

I think the point is that idling the engine is doing exactly jack for the drivetrain and its fluids. Idling til warm may make one think that the car is ready for hard driving, when in truth this would be extremely rough on the drivetrain. Gentle driving until warm ensures that everything is ready for high rpm driving.
JM2C

[stephen wilson]

The problem isn't about the load on the engine while idling. Engines don't run as efficiently or cleanly at idle, so it can lead to excessive combustion byproducts in the oil.

Shadrach, you answered your own question. The reason to limit RPM's while warming up is because all of the engine components haven't warmed up, so internal tolerances won't be correct. It's not just a question of having some oil flowing. As far as the 2500 RPM number ( I usually hear 3000 ), I think that's derived from experience and common sense. You can feel it, 4000 it getting to the area I would consider high RPM.

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

The problem isn't about the load on the engine while idling. Engines don't run as efficiently or cleanly at idle, so it can lead to excessive combustion byproducts in the oil.

Shadrach, you answered your own question. The reason to limit RPM's while warming up is because all of the engine components haven't warmed up, so internal tolerances won't be correct. It's not just a question of having some oil flowing. As far as the 2500 RPM number ( I usually hear 3000 ), I think that's derived from experience and common sense. You can feel it, 4000 it getting to the area I would consider high RPM.

I did not say there was no reason to limit RPM, What I said was that I have scene "0" scientific evidence to support the 2500RPM number. You're right, it's not just question of having oil flowing. It's a questing of having oil pressure within the specified parameters. Too low and parts don't get adequate lubrication - too high and seals get blown. The latter is likely a bigger concern. Cold, viscous, oil + High RPM = High pressure. High pressure + cold seals = the propensity for a leak.
As far as tolerance and interference issues under normal conditions, my experience is that it's muchado about nothing with water cooled engines. Where oil temp is an issue is how it relates oil pressure. Many people have tried to pass off many old wives tails as coming from "experience and common sense."

I don't care if someone limits their RPM to 2500RPM until all the gauges are in the middle, it certainly is not going to hurt anything...what's mildly annoying is the people throwing out a hard number like there is some sort of science behind it. There's not as far as I can see, but I'm open to learning... I do believe that Porsche (imperfect as they've been through 986/996/987 lines knows something about engines and would not set a limit at 4K unless there was a reason to. BMW is the same, Some of the M cars had computer controlled red-lines depending on temp, but nothing as ridiculous as 2500.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Ummm....because Porsche says so, and they made the car.
Do you not have an owners manual? I'll take their word for it.

I think the point is that idling the engine is doing exactly jack for the drivetrain and its fluids. Idling til warm may make one think that the car is ready for hard driving, when in truth this would be extremely rough on the drivetrain. Gentle driving until warm ensures that everything is ready for high rpm driving.
JM2C

Yes I do have a owners manual & I have read every word in it at least twice.
It also says to change oil every 15,000 miles with Mobil 1 0w-40. Ummmm..... I assume you follow this also.
Ever watch a professional race team warmup a car for hitting the track?
KN3D

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Yes I do have a owners manual & I have read every word in it at least twice.

Sure you didn't miss the part where they say not to exceed 4000rpms, not to apply full throttle, not to apply more than 80% throttle, then? It's definitely there.

I really have no idea where the 2500rpm thing came from. I've heard the 3000 quite a bit, and I trust the experiences of folks in that respect. 2500 to me is too low, and i chastise myself when I catch myself letting the revs drop that low from time to time.

So I follow a combination of owner recommendation and owner's manual recommendation and my range until warming up is from 3000-4000 rpms, plenty to be had in there while being nice to the car, and it warms up within 5-10 minutes.

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

It also says to change oil every 15,000 miles with Mobil 1 0w-40. Ummmm..... I assume you follow this also.

No, but I know people who do and at least one member of this forum who does, and do so because they put enough miles on the vehicle to warrant an oil change at 15,000 miles in less than a year's time. They've had no problems that I've seen, but it's because they're extremely scheduled with their maintenance. So the manual information isn't totally incorrect, it's just not for everyone since a lot of people just don't drive their cars as much as they should. Porsche didn't advise that with the expectation that it'd take some people 15 years to rack up 15,000 miles.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

Sure you didn't miss the part where they say not to exceed 4000rpms, not to apply full throttle, not to apply more than 80% throttle, then? It's definitely there.

I really have no idea where the 2500rpm thing came from. I've heard the 3000 quite a bit, and I trust the experiences of folks in that respect. 2500 to me is too low, and i chastise myself when I catch myself letting the revs drop that low from time to time.

So I follow a combination of owner recommendation and owner's manual recommendation and my range until warming up is from 3000-4000 rpms, plenty to be had in there while being nice to the car, and it warms up within 5-10 minutes.



No, but I know people who do and at least one member of this forum who does, and do so because they put enough miles on the vehicle to warrant an oil change at 15,000 miles in less than a year's time. They've had no problems that I've seen, but it's because they're extremely scheduled with their maintenance. So the manual information isn't totally incorrect, it's just not for everyone since a lot of people just don't drive their cars as much as they should. Porsche didn't advise that with the expectation that it'd take some people 15 years to rack up 15,000 miles.

I intentionally withheld any comments about RPM limits so none of your post makes any sense.